Earlier today, former American Airlines baggage handler Victor Bourne, a Barbadian national, was sentenced to life in prison for his leadership of an international drug trafficking organization called the “Bourne Organization” by law enforcement, that smuggled cocaine from the Caribbean into the United States. Bourne was convicted of narcotics trafficking offenses and money laundering following a month-long trial in October 2011.

In total, the investigation that culminated in Bourne’s conviction and sentence has resulted in 20 convictions, including the conviction of 19 airline employees, the seizure of 13 kilograms of cocaine and 2,900 pounds of marijuana, and the forfeiture of US$6.9 million.

Cocaine hidden in aircraft parts and compartments

The evidence at trial proved that, between 2000 and 2009, the Bourne Organization utilized corrupt employees of commercial airlines, including American Airlines, working at domestic and international ports of entry to smuggle illegal narcotics into the United States and throughout the Caribbean. Bourne paid dispatching crew chiefs at American Airlines to assign crews of baggage handlers, who, in turn, were paid tens of thousands of dollars by the Bourne Organization to retrieve the cocaine from the flights upon arrival. The cocaine smuggled aboard American Airlines flights into JFK Airport was hidden behind panels in the front and rear cargo holds, the ceiling and wing assembly, and in the aircraft’s avionics and other vital equipment compartments.

After removing the cocaine from these locations, the corrupt baggage handlers hid the drugs inside their coats and airline equipment bags to avoid detection by law enforcement and safely transport the drugs to Bourne. The government proved at trial that, in this manner, the Bourne Organization was responsible for the importation into the United States of over 150 kilograms of cocaine. At the time of his arrest in 2009, Bourne was preparing to transport even larger quantities of cocaine in cargo containers from the Carribean to the United States.

An American Airlines employee at JFK Airport who was not involved in drug trafficking testified that Bourne accused him of stealing two kilograms of cocaine. This witness testified that Bourne threatened to “kill me, my family, my kids” if the drugs were not returned. Shortly thereafter, Bourne confronted the same employee at the airport and pushed him off of a truck, causing a neck injury.

The evidence at trial also established that Bourne was responsible for the shipment of over 5,000 pounds of marijuana aboard cargo vessels, in part through a Brooklyn footwear company, to businesses in Barbados.

Bourne reaped millions of dollars in illegal cash proceeds from his illegal drug trafficking, and laundered his drug proceeds through businesses and real estate ventures in Brooklyn and Barbados.

When one is convicted of illegal crimes one must do the time. It is amazing that there are many that have done far worse than Victor Bourne and they remain free to do more damage to humanity under the guise of philanthropy and other “economic hitman” programs. Do people remember the “Gangs of New York” and the immigrants who came as druglords, smugglers and criminals to the US mainland? Do people remember John Dillinger? Baby Face Nelson? “The American Gangster” and others who are known in history moreso than many others doing good for humanity. The actions and navigation shared in select federal reports of the Victor Bourne story sounds like the actions many protected by law enforcement agencies and private military corporations of 19th and 20th century bootleggers that became the Wall Street brokers of America and financiers of capitalist wars, terrorism and other crimes against humanity- except Bourne got caught in the 21st century and was not of the right socioeconomic and cultural background to be released like so many others who walk the street free as philanthropists, elected leaders, military officials and unscrupulous drug barons in 2012.

Really, that Arthur the BLP group is thrilling and suspenseful. Film producer, Michael Bay should consider them for movie making. First, Kensington oval, the stadium was built on land that belongs to Violet Beckles not the Barbados government. That woman, Violet Beckles produced land deeds proving that property on which Kensington Oval was built rightfully belongs to her. Beckles had land deeds proving she was owner of at least 200 other properties that includes the famed Sandy Lane Hotel Resort in St. James. Beckles had in her possession the land deeds and a will. The will, incidentally was reviewed in 1990 by then Attorney General, Mia Mottley. Mottley in 1990 confirmed Beckles as beneficiary of the will. Clyde Denny, another victim of land theft willingly gave up his house and land to the Barbados Government for construction of the Eagle Hall Market. Denny was relocated to Passage View, Passage View Road in St. Michael by government but never compensated for the loss of his property. So, Bajans are not surprised that the property of which sits the home of BLP member Gline Clark rightfully belonged to a private owner but seized by government.

Wait! No wait! There’s more BLP theft, The BLP around August 2007 created a look-alike version of the Barbados Free Press site and used their logo. The BLP attempted to confuse the public and to draw traffic from the genuine Barbados Free Press posts. In doing this, they, the BLP entered into plagiarism and copyright theft. . . Mind blowing. That’s mind blowing but character of the BLP. The Barbados Labor Party prompted a website that involved arson, rape and murder of a political opponent of the government. Arthur refused to acknowledge a letter from the victim of death threats and the police would not investigate because some of the death threats were forwarded from a computer used by a BLP member. . . Mind blowing. That’s mind blowing but character of the BLP.

The path of the DLP involving David Thompson is non-delightful. The path of the BLP (1994-2008) involving Owen Arthur and several BLP members is also non-delightful. They, all BLP members could and should sit at dinner table, pass it all around, their own non-tasting food:

After Victor Bourne has served his sentence will the USA deport him to Bim and will our Government allow him to be repatriated or as is the case with Garcia refuse him entry? Both should be flushed down the nearest toilet.

The DLP involving David Thompson is mind blowing, likewise and The BLP involving Arthur and the BLP. Both the DLP involving David Thompson and the BLP involving Owen Arthur are tainted by mountains of mess but the BLP mess mountains are more immense.

Arthur and the BLP in 2008 were forced out of office but left behind a lot of things that just can’t hide. Stuart and the DLP cannot hide the recent S&P downgrade or ClICO. Barbados before the 2008 general election was downgraded several times. Arthur and the BLP cannot hide this.
The Al Barrack matter originated during the days of Arthur and the BLP. They know this, can’t hide it, that or the $75,000 campaign cheque that Arthur invited into his personal banking account. The Mottley family linked to Mia Mottley purchased the Arch Cot land that couldn’t be built on and got planning permission within six months. The previous owner was denied planning permission. The Mottley family was not. The Codrington family totaling five all died at Arch Cot, Britton Hill; their home fell into a cave beneath it. Arthur and the BLP cannot hide this. Those deaths at Arch Cot, Britton Hill could have been avoided. No building on that land should have been allowed. The attorney general at that time (Dale Marshall) blames no one. No one is responsible, it could have happened to anyone. BULLSHIT!!! That property was linked to the Mottley family involving Mia Mottley and the incident occurred under the BLP government with Owen Arthur at the helm.
The Al Barrack matter originated during the days of Arthur and the BLP. They know this, can’t hide it, that or the $75,000 campaign cheque that Arthur invited into his personal banking account. The Mottley family linked to Mia Mottley purchased the Arch Cot land that couldn’t be built on and got planning permission within six months. The previous owner was denied planning permission. The Mottley family was not. The Codrington family totaling five all died at Arch Cot, Britton Hill; their home fell into a cave beneath it. Arthur and the BLP cannot hide this. Those deaths at Arch Cot, Britton Hill could have been avoided. No building on that land should have been allowed.

Owen Arthur in 2006 invested 2.4 million in a Nigerian water heater project. No water heaters were produced and the 2.4 million dollars was lost and or unaccounted for. Someone’s INCOMPETENCE is responsible for this. That would be Owen Arthur and the BLP.

Al Barrack was awarded a government contract without tender. Barrack built the complex at Warrens in St. Michaels though he had never built a project that size. The BLP exposed to Bajans their incompetence and cannot hide it. VECO, a corrupt Corporation homebased in Alaska was awarded a government contract via Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall. The VECO Corporation built the prison at Dodds in St. Philip without tender but had no record of building prisons. Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall exposed to Bajans their incompetence and cannot hide it.

The DLP house is not spotless. They know this. The BLP house is also not spotless. They know this. The BLP, though, barks at the DLP as though its house is clean or cleaner than the DLP; it’s not. Bajans could do better than Stuart but without Arthur. Let that dog lie dead, Owen Arthur.

A policy holder

October 8, 2012 at 6:45 pm

We going hv to mek a serious serious investment in the old US Naval Base in St. Lucy. We going need nuff more jail space when we start locking up the corrupt politicians, lawyers, and every other white collar criminal deserving of doing time. Don’t give them the benefits to be had at Dodds…. Hard time at North Point and they can fish for their food off the cliff while shackled to a big rock.

LOOK

October 8, 2012 at 8:13 pm

You could at least let Arthur have his bottle, know he often goes on a drinking binge.

How come when the Arch Cot tragedy occurred SEVERAL area residents/witnesses all said independently that they heard a loud explosion BEFORE the apts. sank into the cave below but there is NO MENTION of this evidence in the official Coroner’s Inquiry? Who is being protected here? Could the story be true that the man of the family was a drug distributor and owed his higher-ups considerable sums and his home was dynamited to make him an example to other pushers? It seems that the explosion-like noise would appear to confirm such a scenario? Why do multiple witnesses all agree they heard something then years later on giving their evidence, they don’t mention it? Fear for their lives? Mass Amnesia? What is really happening here?

Bottom line, no building on the land was allowed before purchased by the Mottley’s because it was caved. The Mottleys purchased the Arch Cot land and got planning permission six months after when the previous owner couldn’t. That was not a mistake or accidental.

VECO is yet another BLP embarrassment. Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall gave the VECO Corporation (Alaska) a government contract WITHOUT TENDER. VECO built the prison at Dodds in St. Philip and VECO had no record of building prisons. What was the OVER BUDGETED AMOUNT? Who is accountable for it, the over-budgeted figure amount? Seems to me Arthur and the BLP is responsible for a lot of mess-ups, want to publically advertise any and all errors linked to the DLP but hide and or over look their own, NOT WORKING.

Corruption we know is everywhere and in every place. Some countries, big and small fight it, some don’t. Some countries, big and small accept and or tolerate it, some don’t. The US fights it, Barbados does not. The US does not tolerate it, Barbados does. These individuals are all proof that the US fights corruption and will not tolerate it: Kwame Kilpatrick, Monica Conyers, Rod Blagojevich, Italia Federici, Kevin Ring, Barbara Rose Collins, Nicholas Mavroules, Albert Buslamante, Samuel B. Kent, David Safavian, J. Steven Giles, Richard Tonry, Mario Biaggi, etc.

On 08/31/2006 Officials of the FBI and IRS raided the offices of several prominent members of the Alaskian Legislation. The investigation involved allegation of illegal gifts to lawmakers from the VECO Corporation home based in Alaska. One of them, Senator Ted Stevens was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 29, 2008 on seven counts of alleging that Stevens received from VECO hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts that he did not declare on his US Senate financial disclosure forms. Stevens was convicted on all seven of these charges on October 28, 2008. All convictions were later vacated. Another, Don Young was under federal investigation for possibly taking bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from the VECO Corporation. Between 1996 and 2006, Young received $157,000 from VECO employees and its political action committee. Also, the Alaska State House of Representatives Pete Kott, Bruce Weyhrauch and Vic Kohring were all charged with federal crimes as part of the investigation into VECO.

Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall gave to VECO a government contract WITHOUT TENDER and VECO had no record of building prisons. Certainly, VECO gave to them, Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall something for such generosity. Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley and Dale Marshall in the United States also would have been charged and convicted possibly for taking bribes, illegal gratuties and gifts from VECO. Arthur should be at Dodds in St. Philip with brother Richard. these too, Mia Mottley, Dale Marshall, Gline Clark, etc. too.

There will likely be another CLICO further on and more massive land theft. Owen Arthur, if given prime minister title again will again likely be putting more money into his personal banking account that belongs elsewhere. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE IN BARBADOS. Corrupt lawyers, politicians and government workers are not prosecuted and or convicted. Otherwise, all would be residents of Dodds in St. Philip: Owen Arthur, Mia Mottley, Dale Marshall, Gine clark, Leroy Parris, etc.

@ LOOK October 17, 2012 at 4:48 pm
“… in Barbados IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Corrupt lawyers, politicians, government employees ALL SURVIVE.”

There is no doubt in my mind that they will all survive IN JAIL. They just need to be sent there. Unfortunately our justice system looks at themselves and know how embarrassing it would be for them (judges) or anyone in high regard so the justice system have no intentions to jail those of high rank positions.

Interesting, the justice sysem in the U.S. can and will actually remove judges from the bench and not embarrased. Interesing, judges in Babados will not embarrase themselves to persecute corrupt lawyes, politicians and government workers but have knowledge and or witnessing massive land theft, money laundeing, WORSE, pre-mediated murder. That’s not embarrassing but MIND BLOWING. I now undersand why Owen Arhur is pushed to the front line for Prime Miniser in light of FACT that he is a drunk and dishonest. IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE IN BARBADOS. Corrupt lawyes, politicians and govenment wokers are not persecuted or convicted. Surpise! the Barbados justice sysem cannot and or will not remove judges from the bench.

for years the former chief justice simmons as well as the bar association have known of the thieving and dishonest ways of lawyers in bim and never lifted a finger to stop these criminals. dont know what the tax payers were paying him for, word is his only goal was to build a shiny new court to jail ordinary folks. lets hope the current case in canada for stealing land earns him a stay in bims shiny new prison.

I am annoyed that Maria Alleyne went to Africa to hire an obeah man or woman. Surely a Bajan like Maria would know any number of good Bajan obeah men and women. And our obeah people could well do with the Foreign Exchange (U.S. dollars)